Phlegmon

Phlegmon

Phlegmon affecting the spine is known as spondylodiskitis and is associated with loss of disk height and endplate destruction. In adults, the marrow is affected first, while in children, the disease starts in the disc itself and spreads rapidly to the adjacent vertebral bodies. Phlegmon in the spine can be a diffuse enhancement, or localized abscess, (peripheral enhancement) in the epidural, subligamentous or paraspinous spaces. Under MRI examination, phlegmon will show dark with T1, and high signal (bright) with T2.

Treatments

The main goal treatment remove the cause of phlegmonous process in order to achieve effective treatment and prevention of residives.

If patients condition is mild and the signs of inflammatory process is presence without signs of infiltrates, then conservative treatment with antibiotics is sufficient.

In severe condition, immediate operation is necessary with application of drainage system. All of these are done under general anaesthesia. During operation, the cavity or place of phlegmonous process are washed with antiseptic, antibiotic solutions and proteolyic ferments.

In post-operative period, i/v drips of detoxification, antibiotics, haemosorbtion, vitaminotherapy. Additionally, the use of i/v or i/m antistaphylococci γ-globulin or anatoxin can be taken as immunotherapy.

During operation of phlegmon dissection at any location, it is important:

to avoid spreading of pus during operation

take into account the cosmetic value of operating site especially phlegmmonous process of face.